Toilet article



March 6, 1928. 1,661,200

5. SPITZ TOILET ARTICLE Filed Aug. 24. 1927 INVENTOR.

- ja/m/e/ 5,0/2

BY 6 ATT NEYS.

Patented Mar. 6, 1928.

SAMUEL srl rz, or new xonx, N. Y.

TOILET mamas.

Application filed August 24, 1827. Serial ms. 218,000. i

This invention is a toilet article and more particularly an article forthe propercare of the oral cavity. d

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and convenientappliance for maintaining a clean, sanitary and healthy condition of theoral cavity and, more particu.

larly, for the cleaning of the teeth, the mas o sage of the gums andscraping of the tongue.

I provide a suitable handle, at one end of which is mounted a toothbrush embodying a substantiallyrectangular cluster of bristles adaptedfor the cleaning of the inner and r outer surfaces of the teeth. At theother end of the handle is pivotally mountedanother tooth brush of suchshape as to efficient- I clean between the teeth and at one end of thehandle is also pivotally mounted a tongue 0 scra er. The tongue scraperand both brus es are so 'pivotally'supported on the handle that theymaybe moved into and out of cooperative relation therewithafter themanner of blades of a jack-knife, the-handle having a spring formaintaining the imple' ments against inadvertent shifting from oneposition to the other.

Particular attention is directed to the brush for cleaning the surfacesof the teeth. o This brush has a highly novel andeflicient" manner ofmounting the bristle portion in a holder by which itis mounted on thehandle. The holder ispivo'ted to the handle in a manner similar to jackknife blades and SI is of box-like form. "One side of the'f-boxlikeholder is normallyopen, so as to permit "the brush to be moved laterallyin an edgewise direction into or out of the holderand a latch isassociated with the holder -to lock the brush in operative positiontherein. This arrangement provides for the easy substitution of refills,so that when the brush becomes worn or unsanitary, it maybe discardedand a new one substitutedinits stead. i brushes has heretofore beenproposed, but the holders for these refills have possessed certain.disadvantages which it isone of the objects of this invention toovercome and which are in fact obviated by the improved construction ofthis invention.

' The brush for cleaning between the teeth is also ofnovelconstructioii. The body of the brush is substantially semi-circularand supportsan arcuate group ofbristleswith In practically carrying outthe invention,

I am aware that the use of refills fortooth the peripheral contour ofthe bristles and the peripheral contour of the body ofsubstantially thesame diameter, so asto permit the spaces between the teeth tobeefficiently cleansed, while preserving the mouthfrom latter brush is inthe form of a metal shank flattened out and perforated to receive theglivot pin by which it is mounted on the hane. The structure is simple,economical to manufacture and thoroughly efiicient in the performance ofits functions. 1 i

Features of the invention, other than those specified, will be apparentfrom the hereinafter detailed description and claims, when readinconjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

The accompanying drawing illustrates one practical" embodiment of theinvention, but the construction therein shownis to be understood asillustrative, only, and not as defining the limitsof the invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an article embodying the presentinvention. Figure 2 is a plan view of the structure shown in Figure 1. id a Figure 3 is a perspective view of the holder for thetoothsurifacebrush showinga brush removed from the holder.

Figure 4is a section on the line4-4 of v Figure 5 shows a massage toolmay be employed inthe holder in lieu of the brush.

1 Figure 6 shows the briish at the hand end of Fi pics 1 and 2 and whichbrush isemploye [to clean betweenthe teeth. Referring tothedrawings,ldesi nates a handle which is open at one side as s own in Figures 2 and4 and is provided at its oppo- .6 shown in the brush holder-is for thepivot 2 and the holder is mounted so as to swing into and out of thehandle afterthe manner of the blade of a jack knife. The holder isformed with a solid body 7, the forward end of which is shapedto form ahollow receptacle 8, one side of the receptacle is substan- .tiallyclosed by a flange 9, While the free end of the receptacle is providedwith a return lip 10. a I

contact with the bristles. The body of this 20 in lieu of the bristles.

The base 11 of the receptacle is made sub,- stantially flat and from thebody 7 extends anoverhanging flange 12.

As shown in Figure 3, the receptacle is open at one side to receiveabrush l ihavmg bristles 15 of such number, arrangement and shape as toadapt it to brush between the surfaces of the teeth. Theback or solidportion of the brush is of a shape and size to be received within thereceptacle 8 of the holder and is provided at its forward andj'rear endswith stepped projections 16 end 17, which, when the brush is in positionin the holder, are adapted to underlie the flanges 10 and 12,respectively. Moreover, the stepped ends may be of any suitable shapeand may be dove-tailed or otherwise, interfit with the holder beneaththe flanges 10 and 12.

When thus positioned in the holder, one lateral edge of the brush willrest againstthe flange ,9 of the holder and the brush is adapted to beremovablyheld in its position by means of a spring finger 18 mounted ona pivot 19 on the body of the holder. When the spring linger 18 is inthe position shown in Figure 3, the brush may be readily slipped intoand out of the holder, but when the brush is positioned in the holderand the spring finger 18 swung around into position to bear against theexposed edge of the brush, the brush will be held by said finger inrigid position within the holder and cannot possibly becomeinadvertently displaced.

Instead of employing the brush'shown in Figure 3, I may substitutetherefor a gum massage implement 1 1 shown in Figured This implement hasa rigid back of the same shape as the back of the brush and is providedwith resilient massage projections It is adapted to be used to massagethe gums and maintain them in a perfect condition. In practice,

' a the brush and massage implement may be used interchangeably in theholder as may 'be' desired by the user.

In order to allow for easy removal :of the brush or implement from theholder, the

flange 9 is cut away as shown at 21 to allow the opcrators finger toenter and remove the implement. It will be noted that the holder opensfrom the side and I have found this to be very oonveinent and to providefor a very tight andefiicient' grip of the implement held therein.

Mounted on the pivot 3 at the opposite end of the handle is a brush 22particularly adapted for cleaning between the teeth.

This brush has a solid back- 23 of subtantial'ly segmental shape andwith the solid back is associated a segmental group of bristles 2 1. Thecontour of the bristles form acontinuation of the contour of the solidback, so that this brush is substantially circular.

The brush is mounted on one end of a Wirerod 25 in any suitable mannerand the other end of the rod is flattened out as shown at 26 and isperforatedto receive the pivot pin 8, so that!v the brush can be movedinto extended or collapsed relation with re spect to the handle afterthemanner of a tailed, description that the toilet article of 1 thisinvention provides thoroughly efficient means for keeping the oralcavity clean, healthy and sanitary. The construction is compact and maybe conveniently carried in a traveling bag or any other suitable re-'ceptaele.

The description sets forth the invention in its preferred practicalform, but the invention is to be understood, asfully commensurate withtheappended claims. 7

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a toilet article, a handle, a brush holder pivotally mounted onone end of the handle, a brush detaehably secured in said holder andshaped to brush the surfaces of the teeth, a second brush pivoted to theother-end of the handle and shaped to'brush between the teeth, and aspring mounted :on the handle and engaging with the brush holder at oneend and the brush "at the other end to hold them againstinadvertentpivotal I movement.

2; In a toilet article, a handle, a brush holder 'pivotally mounted onone end of the handle, a brush detachably secured in said holder andshaped to brush the surfaces of I the teeth, a second brush pivoted tothe other end of the handle and shaped to brush be-;'

tween the teeth, .a tongue scraper pivoted at one end ofthe handle, anda spring mounted on the handle and engaging with the brush holder at oneend and the brush at the other end and with the tongue scraper to holdthem against inadvertent pivotal movement. 3. In a toilet article, ahandle having an open side, a brush holder pivoted to one end f of thehandle and embodying a receptacle having an open side, a brush adaptedto. be inserted into the holder through the open side thereof, means to'removably hold thebrush in the holder, and a spring on the handle forsecuring the brush holder against inadvertent pivotal movement withrespect to the handle. Q

4. In a toilet article, a handle, abrush holder pivoted to one end ofthe handle and embodying a. receptacle having an open side and an openfront and into which ,a brush is adapted to be introduced edgewise, saidholder having flanges at the open front overhangin the bristle side ofthe brush at both ends t ereof, a spring finger pivotally mounted on theholder and adapted to be moved into a position to engage the edge of thebrush for the purpose of precluding the brush from falling out of theopen side.

5. In a toilet article, a handle having an open side, a brush holderivoted to one end of the handle and embo ying a receptacle having anopen side and an open front and into which a brush is adapted to beintroduced edgewise, said holder having flanges at the open frontoverhangin the bristle side of the brush at both ends thereof, a springfinger pivotally mounted on the holder and adapted to be moved into aposi tion to engage the edge of the brush for the purpose of precludingthebrush from falling out of the open side, and a spring mounted on thehandle and bearing against the brush holderto preclude inadvertentrotation of the holder onthe handle.

6. In a toilet article, a brush holder comprising a hollow receptaclehaving a closed bottom and closed ends, a flange extending from thebottom to at least partially enclose one side, flanges from the ends topartially close the front, and a pivoted spring finger for partiallyclosing the other side 1n combination withan implement of a shape andsize to be introduced into the receptacle by edgewise movement throughthe open side thereof when the spring finger is moved out of the way,the spring finger being thereafter movable into a positlon to engagewith the implement to hold it in position in the holder. v i

7. In a toilet article, a brush to clean between the teeth comprising abody of segmental shape having bristles also segmentally disposed and ofsuch contour that the periphery of the bristle portion of the brush willform a continuation of the peripher of the body of the brush, a shankextending from the brush and having its free end flattened] andperforated to permit it to be secured to the handle.

In testimony whereof I have signed the foregoing specification.

SAMUEL SPITZ.

